Is it just me or did this year simply fly by, like an illegal taxi at a roadblock?

And what an exceptional year it has been. We have been blissfully busy working with two types of organisations: Those fighting the Price Wars and those who are winning the Strategic Battles.

Those fighting the price war are despondent, depressed, distraught and demotivated. They are GATVOL of the China Factor, Commoditisation, Globalisation, Financial Turmoil, Uncertainty, Indecisiveness, Aggressive Competitors and Endless Economic woes. (Ja dit is WOES!) They are tired of battling in the trenches, cutting prices to the bone, losing margin, juggling cashflow, getting their butts whipped by the opposition and not getting their damn credit applications approved. They call us in to equip their tired troops with new sales weapons and ammunition to go out and win the war. Continue Reading

As the end of 2010 rears its inevitable head, it is time to pause and reflect on what has been a year of 2 halves, with a delicious, squishy middle. I don’t know about you, but for me this has been a somewhat schizophrenic year, with some definite lowlights and highlights. I recall the first half of 2010, still suffering under the hangover of the global economic crunch. The World Cup was coming to SA and we had absolutely no idea of what was actually going to happen. Was it really going to take place? Would the stadiums be ready? Would anybody come here to watch the tournament after the sensationalist British tabloids ran a headline on “Machete Wielding Gangs” roaming our streets? Life seemed to be on hold, in a surreal sort of limbo. We heard of scary possibilities like our kids being kidnapped by human trafficking syndicates and the supermarkets running out of fresh produce. It was a crazy time, uncertain, unpredictable and stressful, filled with the contradiction of a deep desire for success and a very real possibility of failure Continue Reading

Did you hear the one about the optimist who accidentally fell from the roof of the 100 storey building? Someone down on the 50th floor heard them falling past an open window saying: “So Far So Good!”

On Saturday I witnessed an historic event – two South African Rugby teams playing in a Super 14 final at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. It was amazing to see the stadium full of cheering Rugby Fans, the cacophony of droning Vuvuzelas, the colourful Makarapas and president Zuma pitching up on the pitch to greet the players before kick-off. For an optimist like me, this was a significant event, one which brought back powerful emotional memories of Rugby World Cup 1995. (Although back then my team won the game…) Continue Reading

Today, we remember the release from prison 20 years ago of Madiba, our beloved statesman, inspirational leader and all round good oke. Some remember with joy, others with anger. (Some don’t remember at all.) I recall around the time of his release having many lively arguments with my soon to be father in law. We would sit in front of the TV as the news unfolded, him older angry and fearful, me younger, excited and hopeful. Two white South Africans with completely different expectations of the same event. One optimist and one pessimist, both wanting to be proven right. And we were. I was adamant that Mandela’s release meant the end of apartheid and a vital new beginning for SA. He was just as adamant that his release meant the beginning of the end for all of us. Continue Reading